The consequences of eating harmful foods affect the body even after switching to a "healthy diet"
Last reviewed: 17.10.2021
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Almost everyone knows that the normal functioning of the immune system is directly related to the state of the intestine. The diet and way of life that leads a person can significantly disrupt the intestinal microflora, as a result of which many health problems begin.
In one of the studies, experts evaluated the condition of two groups of rodents, who were predisposed to atherosclerosis and increased cholesterol levels.
In the first group of mice, the food consisted of foods high in fat and cholesterol, in the second group - from healthy foods, mainly vegetables, fruits, and cereals.
A few months later, scientists transplanted the marrow of rodents from the group with "unhealthy food" to rodents with a "healthy diet", which has a similar genetic background.
Over the next few months, the mice with bone marrow transplant continued to eat "healthy food", after which their condition was evaluated by specialists.
As a result, in rodents with bone marrow transplantation the process of modification of the DNA molecule changed (the structure of the molecule remained unchanged). Also in mice, weakened the protective properties of the body and the development of atherosclerosis.
After the course of treatment of atherosclerosis, which was successful, lowering cholesterol, changes in nutrition in rodents, the consequences of unhealthy lifestyle and disruption of the immune system were preserved.
As experts noted, bad habits change the process of transferring genetic information from DNA through ribonucleic acid to proteins and polypeptides.
This discovery will allow developing a new approach to the treatment and prevention of autoimmune diseases. Experts intend to conduct another series of studies, during which to find out how long this effect persists and what drugs will help normalize the condition.
Change your habitual diet is difficult, especially if the menu was dominated by harmful products. But recently, experts have proven that you can change even persistent food cravings. The new study involved 13 volunteers (men and women) who had problems with being overweight.
The specialists divided the participants into two groups: in the first the participants were eating their usual food, and in the second they followed weight loss programs, part of which was a low-carbohydrate diet with high protein and fiber content.
During the diet, participants did not feel hungry, because it is the feeling of hunger that makes unhealthy food attractive to humans. All volunteers before the experiment and at the end of it made a magnetic resonance imaging.
As a result, six months later in the brain of participants from the group of low-carbohydrate diets, specialists revealed changes that affected the pleasure center.
When scanning, participants were shown various photos of food, and experts noted that people who participated in the weight loss program watched photos of low-calorie foods, activity in the center of pleasure increased, in addition, the craving for unhealthy food in this group decreased significantly.
As a result of their work, scientists concluded that it is possible to change taste preferences and enjoy the low-calorie products.